Roofing shingle angle cutter

Abstract

A shingle cutting tool for cutting a shingle having a longitudinal edge, the shingle cutting tool making a cut across the shingle at a selectable angle transverse to the longitudinal edge thereof, the shingle cutting tool including a guide member, the guide member having a substantially upright surface for guiding the longitudinal edge of the shingle, and a cutting assembly, the cutting assembly being pivotally attached to the guide member and extending outward therefrom, the cutting assembly including a cutting base member, a cutting blade, the cutting blade having a cutting edge, the cutting edge opposing the base member, a reciprocating guide mechanism for guiding the cutting blade in a reciprocating fashion within a plane extending from the cutting base, and a pressure mechanism for exerting a pressure on the cutting blade to thereby bring the cutting edge into contact with the cutting base member. Alternatively, the pressure mechanism includes either a manually actuated lever mechanism or a pneumatic cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shingle cutting tool for cutting a shingle having a longitudinal edge, said shingle cutting tool making a cut across the shingle at a selectable angle transverse to the longitudinal edge thereof, said shingle cutting tool comprising: a guide member, said guide member having a substantially upright surface for guiding the longitudinal edge of the shingle; and   a cutting assembly;   said cutting assembly being pivotally attached to said guide member and extending outward therefrom;   said cutting assembly comprising: a cutting base member;   a cutting blade, said cutting blade having a cutting edge, said cutting edge opposing said base member;   a reciprocating guide means for guiding said cutting blade in a reciprocating fashion within a plane extending from a cutting base;   a pressure means for exerting a pressure on said cutting blade to thereby bring said cutting edge into contact with said cutting base member; and   a cutting stroke adjustment member attached to the pressure means and to the cutting blade.     
     
     
       2. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein said pressure means comprises manual pressure means for an application of a manual pressure supplied by a user of said shingle cutting tool. 
     
     
       3. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 2, wherein said manual pressure means comprises at least a pair of lever arms, one of said pair of lever arms being connected to said cutting base member and the other of said pair of lever arms being connected to said cutting blade. 
     
     
       4. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 3, wherein said reciprocating guide means comprises at least one pin extending outward from said cutting base member and at least one slot provided in said cutting blade, said at least one pin being disposed within said at least one slot. 
     
     
       5. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 4, wherein said at least one pin and said at least one slot comprises a pin positioned at each end of said cutting base member and a slot positioned at each end of said cutting blade, one each of said pins being disposed within one each of said slots. 
     
     
       6. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 5, wherein said shingle cutting tool additionally comprises retaining means for retaining said cutting assembly at a selected transverse angle with respect to said guide member. 
     
     
       7. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 6, wherein said retaining means comprises a wing nut. 
     
     
       8. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 7, wherein said shingle cutting tool additionally comprises a plurality of graduated measurement marks extending along a longitudinal axis of said guide member. 
     
     
       9. A shingle cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein said pressure means comprises a pneumatically actuated piston and cylinder. 
     
     
       10. A shingle cutting tool for cutting a shingle having a longitudinal edge, said shingle cutting tool making a cut across the shingle at a selectable angle transverse to the longitudinal edge thereof, said shingle cutting tool comprising: a guide member, said guide member having a substantially upright surface for guiding the longitudinal edge of the shingle; and   a cutting assembly;   said cutting assembly being pivotally attached to said guide member and extending outward therefrom;   said cutting assembly comprising: a cutting base member;   a cutting blade, said cutting blade having a cutting edge, said cutting edge opposing said base member;   a reciprocating guide means for guiding said cutting blade in a reciprocating fashion within a plane extending from a cutting base; and   a manual pressure means for manually exerting a pressure on said cutting blade to thereby bring said cutting edge into contact with said cutting base member;   a cutting stroke adjustment member attached to the pressure means and to the cutting blade;   said manual pressure means comprises at least a pair of lever arms, one of said pair of lever arms being connected to said cutting base member and the other of said pair of lever arms being connected to said cutting blade;   said reciprocating guide means comprises a pin positioned at each end of said cutting base member and a slot positioned at each end of said cutting blade, one each of said pins being disposed within one each of said slots; and   said shingle cutting tool additionally comprises retaining means for retaining said cutting assembly at a selected transverse angle with respect to said guide member.     
     
     
       11. A shingle cutting tool for cutting a shingle having a longitudinal edge, said shingle cutting tool making a cut across the shingle at a selectable angle transverse to the longitudinal edge thereof, said shingle cutting tool comprising: a guide member, said guide member having a substantially upright surface for guiding the longitudinal edge of the shingle; and   a cutting assembly;   said cutting assembly being pivotally attached to said guide member and extending outward therefrom;   said cutting assembly comprising: a cutting base member;   a cutting blade, said cutting blade having a cutting edge, said cutting edge opposing said base member;   a reciprocating guide means for guiding said cutting blade in a reciprocating fashion within a plane extending from a cutting base; and   a pressure means for exerting a pressure on said cutting blade to thereby bring said cutting edge into contact with said cutting base member;   a cutting stroke adjustment member attached to the pressure means and to the cutting blade;   said pressure means comprises a pneumatic cylinder;     said reciprocating guide means comprises a pin positioned at each end of said cutting base member and a slot positioned at each end of said cutting blade, one each of said pins being disposed within one each of said slots;   said shingle cutting tool additionally comprises retaining means for retaining said cutting assembly at a selected transverse angle with respect to said guide member;   said retaining means comprises a wing nut; and   said shingle cutting tool additionally comprises a plurality of graduated measurement marks extending along a longitudinal axis of said guide member.